Iraq PM calls for stronger economic ties with Egypt
CAIRO, Dec 20, 2009 (AFP) - Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki called for stronger economic ties with Egypt during a visit to Cairo on Sunday, the official MENA news agency reported.
Maliki met with his Egyptian counterpart Ahmed Nazif, with whom he discussed "means to promote economic, trade and investment ties," MENA said.
The two premiers also discussed Egypt's efforts in helping rebuild Iraqi infrastructure.
Ahead of the visit, Maliki told Egyptian television he wanted to "invite Egypt to participate in Iraq's reconstruction."
The visit is a sign of strengthening bilateral relations.
In November, a new Egyptian ambassador took up his position in Baghdad, which had been vacant since Cairo's charge d'affaires was murdered in Iraq in 2005.
Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari was in Cairo last month to attend meetings of an Egyptian-Iraqi commission tasked with consolidating bilateral relations.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit was in Baghdad in 2008, in the first visit by a high-level Egyptian official to Iraq since 1990.
cr/jaz/hkb
Copyright AFP 2009.
CAIRO, Dec 20, 2009 (AFP) - Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki called for stronger economic ties with Egypt during a visit to Cairo on Sunday, the official MENA news agency reported.
Maliki met with his Egyptian counterpart Ahmed Nazif, with whom he discussed "means to promote economic, trade and investment ties," MENA said.
The two premiers also discussed Egypt's efforts in helping rebuild Iraqi infrastructure.
Ahead of the visit, Maliki told Egyptian television he wanted to "invite Egypt to participate in Iraq's reconstruction."
The visit is a sign of strengthening bilateral relations.
In November, a new Egyptian ambassador took up his position in Baghdad, which had been vacant since Cairo's charge d'affaires was murdered in Iraq in 2005.
Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari was in Cairo last month to attend meetings of an Egyptian-Iraqi commission tasked with consolidating bilateral relations.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit was in Baghdad in 2008, in the first visit by a high-level Egyptian official to Iraq since 1990.
cr/jaz/hkb
Copyright AFP 2009.